The session will highlight the food versus fuel dilemma. Biofuels are used to fuel our cars in a green way, thus reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. However, roughly 40 % of US corn is projected to be used to make fuel. How much farmland can be used for the production of biofuel when one billion people go hungry?

1. ENERGY-SMART FOODENERGY-SMART FOOD
forfor
People and ClimatePeople and Climate
EEnergy =nergy = mmeals xeals x cclimatelimate cchangehange
ISES 2013ISES 2013
““Food versus Fuel”Food versus Fuel”
Trondheim, 15 June, 2013Trondheim, 15 June, 2013
Professor Ralph Sims,Professor Ralph Sims,
Massey University New ZealandMassey University New Zealand
R.E.Sims@massey.ac.nzR.E.Sims@massey.ac.nz

2. New ZealandNew Zealand
The Correct Map of the WorldThe Correct Map of the World
New ZealandNew Zealand
1.57 t CO1.57 t CO22
emissions!!emissions!!
TrondheimTrondheim

4. What is the FOOD-ENERGYWhat is the FOOD-ENERGY
problem?problem?• The global agri-food supply chain (fromThe global agri-food supply chain (from ““paddock-paddock-
to-plateto-plate””) is heavily dependent on fossil fuel inputs –) is heavily dependent on fossil fuel inputs –
both direct and indirect.both direct and indirect.
• The post-warThe post-war ““Green RevolutionGreen Revolution”” for OECDfor OECD
countries was largely based upon abundant suppliescountries was largely based upon abundant supplies
of cheap energy.of cheap energy.
• Current concerns are mounting over oil/gas/coalCurrent concerns are mounting over oil/gas/coal
reserves and related greenhouse gas emissions.reserves and related greenhouse gas emissions.
• Modernizing food systems in developing countriesModernizing food systems in developing countries
today simply by increasing fossil fuel inputs may notoday simply by increasing fossil fuel inputs may no
longer be feasible.longer be feasible.
• So can renewable energy and energy efficiencySo can renewable energy and energy efficiency
improve global food supply systems and provideimprove global food supply systems and provide
future water and food security in all countries?future water and food security in all countries?

5. Food prices have recently becomeFood prices have recently become
strongly linked with oil/gas prices.strongly linked with oil/gas prices.

6. http://www.fao.org/docrep/01
Issue paper at

7. Shares of energy in Agri-food supply chainShares of energy in Agri-food supply chain
Around 32% of the total global end-use energyAround 32% of the total global end-use energy
demand of ~300 EJ/yr is used for providing food.demand of ~300 EJ/yr is used for providing food.
High-GDP countriesHigh-GDP countries
~ 35 GJ/capita/yr.~ 35 GJ/capita/yr.
Low-GDP countriesLow-GDP countries
~ 8 GJ/capita/yr~ 8 GJ/capita/yr.

8. Shares of greenhouse gas emissionsShares of greenhouse gas emissions
Around 22% of total global GHG emissionsAround 22% of total global GHG emissions
(~45 Gt CO /yr) arise from the agri-food chain.(~45 Gt CO /yr) arise from the agri-food chain.2-equiv2-equiv
High-GDP countries
~2.20 t CO
/capita /yr
Low-GDP countries
~1.16 t CO
/capita/yr
2eq2eq
2eq2eq

9. Global food losses and food wasteGlobal food losses and food waste
We fail to consumeWe fail to consume
around one third of allaround one third of all
food produced.food produced.
This wastes scarceThis wastes scarce
land, water and energyland, water and energy
resources.resources.
If we reduced half ofIf we reduced half of
this waste, could wethis waste, could we
use more land foruse more land for
biomass production?biomass production?

13. Why is the energy problemWhy is the energy problem
complex?complex?
• All agri-food systems depend upon energyAll agri-food systems depend upon energy
inputs regardless of scale.inputs regardless of scale.
• Scales of an agri-food system range fromScales of an agri-food system range from
subsistence farmers growing food or fishingsubsistence farmers growing food or fishing
for their own consumption,for their own consumption,
family units supplying local markets,family units supplying local markets,
small businesses employing a few staff,small businesses employing a few staff,
large corporate companies supplying hugelarge corporate companies supplying huge
supermarket chains across the world.supermarket chains across the world.
• They each have different energy use inputThey each have different energy use input
levels, but all can use energy more wiselylevels, but all can use energy more wisely
and utilize more local renewable energy.and utilize more local renewable energy.

14. AA low inputlow input agri-food /energy systemagri-food /energy system

15. A low input agri-food /energy system

16. AA low inputlow input food /energy systemfood /energy system

17. AA high inputhigh input food / energy systemfood / energy system

18. A high input agri-food/energy system

19. Energy efficiency opportunitiesEnergy efficiency opportunities
are widespread throughout theare widespread throughout the
agri-food supply chainagri-food supply chain

20. Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency
opportunities are widespreadopportunities are widespread
throughout the agri-foodthroughout the agri-food
supply chainsupply chain

21. IPCC - Special Report on RenewableIPCC - Special Report on Renewable
Energy and Climate ChangeEnergy and Climate Change
Mitigation July, 2011.Mitigation July, 2011.
• can enhance access to reliable,can enhance access to reliable,
affordable and clean modern energyaffordable and clean modern energy
services;services;
• is particularly well-suited for remoteis particularly well-suited for remote
rural populations; andrural populations; and
• in many instances can provide thein many instances can provide the
lowest cost option for energy access.lowest cost option for energy access.
RENEWABLE ENERGY:RENEWABLE ENERGY:

22. RE costs are often higher than current energyRE costs are often higher than current energy
prices but can be competitive in various settings.prices but can be competitive in various settings.
22

23. Launched 2 days ago!Launched 2 days ago!
World invested $244 billion in renewableWorld invested $244 billion in renewable
energy in 2012.energy in 2012.
Shift of investment to developingShift of investment to developing
countries.countries.
Countries, companies and communities areCountries, companies and communities are
seizing the linkages between low carbonseizing the linkages between low carbon
Green Economies and a future of energyGreen Economies and a future of energy
access and security, sustainable livelihoodsaccess and security, sustainable livelihoods
and a stabilised climate. and a stabilised climate.

24. REN21 Global Status Report 2013
Biomass use breakdown 2012Biomass use breakdown 2012

25. Biofuel trends 2000 -2012
REN21 Global Status Report 2013

26. GHG emission reduction is but oneGHG emission reduction is but one
indicator for the best use of theindicator for the best use of the
limited biomass resource use.limited biomass resource use.

27. Aim:
To provide an
update of recent
scientific
findings to
assist GEF
formulate its
strategies and
priorities for
GEF-6, and help
the world move
towards a low-
carbon, green
economy.

28. “Smart agriculture aims to reduce
fossil fuel, chemicals and water
inputs, as well as GHG emissions,
without compromising food security.
A sustainable land, energy and
water management approach can
bring about complementarities
between food security, ecosystem
resilience, climate change
adaptation and mitigation, and
management of green chemicals. “

29. What is the solution?What is the solution?
““Energy-Smart is Climate-Energy-Smart is Climate-
SmartSmart””

30. So Energy-Smart food:So Energy-Smart food:
• improves access to modern energy services forimproves access to modern energy services for
energy-poor subsistence farmers and fishers toenergy-poor subsistence farmers and fishers to
provide increased food supply and security;provide increased food supply and security;
• ensures energy inputs, from whatever sources, areensures energy inputs, from whatever sources, are
used more efficiently than at present along the entireused more efficiently than at present along the entire
agri-food supply chain;agri-food supply chain;
• reduces the energy intensity (MJ / kg of foodreduces the energy intensity (MJ / kg of food
product) of both direct and indirect energy inputs;product) of both direct and indirect energy inputs;
• captures the renewable energy sources availablecaptures the renewable energy sources available
and uses them to displace fossil fuels;and uses them to displace fossil fuels;
• simultaneously enhances food security,simultaneously enhances food security,
sustainable development, climate change mitigation,sustainable development, climate change mitigation,
and helps deliver resilience to climate impacts.and helps deliver resilience to climate impacts.

31. In summaryIn summary The global agri-food supply chain can beThe global agri-food supply chain can be
decoupled from its dependency on fossildecoupled from its dependency on fossil
fuels in order to meet future food demands.fuels in order to meet future food demands.
 Reducing the energy intensity is technicallyReducing the energy intensity is technically
possible at all levels along the food chain.possible at all levels along the food chain.
 Renewable energy deployment can helpRenewable energy deployment can help
improve energy access, food security, priceimprove energy access, food security, price
fluctuations and climate change resilience.fluctuations and climate change resilience.
 Policies developed to drive the transition toPolicies developed to drive the transition to
Energy and Climate-Smart healthy food needEnergy and Climate-Smart healthy food need
to be long term and visionary.to be long term and visionary.
 Avoiding food waste should be a high priorityAvoiding food waste should be a high priority
to free up land, water and energy inputs.to free up land, water and energy inputs.
 But time is running out…….But time is running out…….

32. Future integration of the agri-food and energyFuture integration of the agri-food and energy
sectors in a landscape perspective to give asectors in a landscape perspective to give a
sustainable and secure future.sustainable and secure future.